Old Goa to resound with classical music
History, architecture, heritage and classical music will fuse together at the fourth annual `Monte Music Festival 2006 at the Capela da Nossa Senhora do Monte, Old Goa from March 3 to 5. Presented by Fundacao Oriente and Cidade de Goa, the highlight of the festival includes a special performance by `Ensemble Peregrinacao a choir created by the National Conservatory of Music from Lisbon, Portugal.By Ethel Da Costa
The settings couldnt have been more picture perfect. A 16th century piece of priceless heritage chapel restored to its grandeur, a shimmering river winding towards civilization through islands, lush woods and coconut groves, a haze of mist hovering in the silent courtyard broken occasionally by a kingfisher, and a hillock overlooking the setting sun against the rising white towers of the cathedrals and monuments of Old Goa. The Capela da Nossa Senhora do Monte, to the layman the Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount, constructed in the 16th century under the orders of Afonso de Albuquerque in 1510, is a symbol of much reverence. Referred to as in existence in 1519, and reconstructed twice and later built in 1557 many years after the conquest of Goa to mark the place where Adil Shah took position with his artillery, rich Chapel paintings set inside an imposing façade represents several aspects of Our Ladys life. Ravaged by neglect until restored in 2002 by Fundacao Oriente -- a cultural organization dedicated to the preservation of Ind-Portuguese culture in Goa -- the Chapel comes alive once a year to a buzz of activity at the annual three day classical Indian and Western music festival. Initially planned by Fundacao Oriente as an experiment to mark the use of the heritage site as a venue for cultural programmes in Goa, today, the festival in its fourth year is a hit with locals, discerning music lovers and tourists alike.
Conceived to bring together two great musical traditions that meet in Goa Indian and Western the Monte Music Festival 2006 concentrates on the highest musical forms produced by these two traditions, classical Western and classical Indian. This year, the festival promises to be a perfect packaging of rich musical traditions and marketing genius -- with the Department of Tourism as a partner -- against the backdrop of a heritage monument, painstakingly restored by the Fundacao Oriente and maintained by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).
Facing west and providing a panoramic view of Old Goa, the Mandovi River, the islands of Divar and Chorao, Ribandar and the Arabian Sea, the courtyard of the Capel da Nossa Senhora do Monte, (Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount) makes a romantic setting for sunset performances. Using the three spaces the Chapel has to offer -- the amphitheatre, the courtyard and the chapel -- the festival will showcase a special star cast choir group from Portugal the `Ensemble Peregrincao (The Pilgrimage Ensemble), created by the National Conservatory of Music, Lisbon, and scheduled to present a fusion of religious and traditional music from around the world dating the 16th and 17th century. Reputed artistes like the Delhi born Ustad Rafiuddin Sabri, who learnt tabla from the late Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan Sahab and has accompanied famous artists like Pt Jasraj, Ustad Sultan Khan, Ustad Ghulam Ali will set musical score to the fading blaze of the evening sunset. Santoor player Abhay Rustum Sopori, recipient of the prestigious Kalawant Samman 2004 award who inherited his skills from the Sufiana Gharana, is a regular face at national and international festivals like the `Asian Music Festival, `Salt Lake Festival `Swami Haridas Music Festival in India and abroad. Monte hill will see this maestro in performance along with Pallavi Saran Mathur, disciple of Indias dancing legend Padma Vibhushan Guru Sonal Mansingh who will also dot the star cast of the event.
Using natural acoustics of the Chapel, performances will range from Western Classical Recital to Indian dance and music presentations. Beginning March 3, cue in to a Western Classical Recital by Members of the Forum for the Arts led by Nauzer (piano) and Susan Badyari (flute) and Santoor Recital by Abhay Tushar Sopori and Ustad Rafiuddin Sabri. March 4 will see a vocal recital by Soprano Joanne Marie DMello, winner of the All India Voice Festival organized by the Pune Music Society, January 2005. A Bharatnatyam Presentation by Pallavi Saram Mathur and the Goa State String Orchestra led by Nauzer. On March 5, the Kala Academy String Orchestra led by Teresa Figueiredo will resound at the amphitheatre, followed by a Sitar Recital by Chhote Rahimat Khan and Kala Academy Students of Sitar. The star attraction `Ensemble Peregrinacao from Portugal with Joanne Marie DMello and led by Teresita Gutierrez will have audiences glued to their seats. Created by the National Conservatory of Music, Lisbon to present programmes on Choral music of the Portuguese-speaking countries of the world, the choir appeals both to the idea of religious journey (pilgrimage to the tomb of St Francis Xavier, to the Baroque Churches of Brasil) and to adventure and discovery. The Ensemble specializes on the religious or profane music created due to the dissemination of the Portuguese musical culture across the oceans where Portuguese is spoken from Portugal to Timor, through Brazil and India. Concludes Dr Sergio Mascarenhas de Almeida, Director, Fundacao Oriente, The festival endeavours to link heritage with culture while also promoting Goa as a cultural destination. That in itself is the essence of the festival. So, see you at Monte.
The event is free to the public. Passes for performances inside the chapel are available at the Fundacao Oriente, Fontainhas, Panjim, Feb 27 onwards.
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